Air purifying incinerator apparatus



United States Patent Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Attorney Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT: Air purifying incinerator apparatus comprising an independent secondary combustion chamber for receiving and burning products of incomplete combustion'from a main combustion chamber or for use in receiving and burning any type of combustibles contained in gases prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere and conduit means for introducing the products of incomplete combustion from a main combustion chamber or otherwise into said secondary combustion chamber. Further provided are means for introducing secondary air tangentially into said secondary combustion chamber and selectively operable burner means for introducing an elongate flame to maintain a predetermined temperature in the secondary combustion chamber to support combustion, both aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber. An exhaust stack means is provided for exhausting the purified gases after burning from the secondary combustion chamber. The apparatus preferably includes a heat exchanger chamber in the exhaust stack means for heating the secondary air and preferably includes an incandescent screen means in the secondary combustion chamber for providing an additional burning medium therein and to produce a partial obstacle to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion therethrough.

Pa .tented h Dec. 1 1970 Sheet fim MET m Mi: mmm m 5% f H E E a M wn 7 R 1 a M m m 0 B w WW3 FUEL SUPPLY Patnted Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet WASTE: Sou RCE- JosEP INVENTORSI H F BA\QA$,J2. PETER M. DEVITA, andJAmas E. NEWAST svmzwfilzom fl wwm RmHARb G. NourE,

ATTORNEYS This invention relates to air purifying incinerator apparatus for the disposing of waste material and more particularly to an improved secondary combustion chamber and related apparatus which is preferably used in combination with a main combustion chamber to form a complete waste material incinerator or may be used for purifying any type of gases from an industrial operation, etc., in which'the gases contain combustibles which may be burned prior to exhausting the gases into the atmosphere.

In recent times, air pollution has become a major problem, particularly in cities and large metropolitan areas, due to the polluted air exhausted into the atmosphere from numerous industrial operations, waste incineration, etc. To overcome this problem, various efforts have been made to improve waste incinerator designs and air purifying incinerator apparatus to eliminate combustible residues in exhausted gases and smoke and thereby reduce the pollution in the atmosphere. However, these efforts have not proved entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons including complicated designs, excessively long exhaust or smoke stacks, expense, and failure to completely or satisfactorily purify the air of combustible pollutants.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide and improved air purifying incinerator apparatus which will satisfactorily purify the air or gases prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere and which may be utilized in combination with a main incinerator system or for use in receiving any type of gases which contain combustible pollutants and purifying same prior to exhausting into the atmosphere.

This object is accomplished in the present invention preferably by providing an air purifying incinerator apparatus comprising first, generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a main combustion chamber for the burning of waste material therein and including an access means for charging the main combustion chamber with waste material and air supply means associated with said main combustion chamber for supplying secondary air thereto to support combustion therein. The apparatus further comprises second, independent, generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a generally cylindrical secondary combustion chamber for receiving the products of incomplete combustion from the main combustion chamber and for burning same therein. There is further provided a generally vertically-extending, hollow transition conduit means opening at one end thereof into the main combustion chamber and opening at the other end thereof into the secondary combustion chamber for allowing the passage therethrough in a generally vertical direction of the products of incomplete combustion or gases to be burned from the main combustion chamber into the secondary combustion chamber. If desired, the second housing means defining the secondary combustion chamber and the attached transition conduit means may be utilized with other apparatus other than a main combustion chamber for receiving gases to be purified prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere.

The apparatus further includes an air supply means associated with the secondary combustion chamber and with the transition conduit for introducing secondary air tangentially into the secondary combustion chamber to support combustion therein and for aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of both the secondary air and the products of incomplete combustion or gases to be burned in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber to provide proper mixing therebetween and to create turbulence and drag to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber to insure complete secondary burning thereof. A selectively operable burner means is provided which is associated with the secondary combustion chamber and the transition conduit means for introducing an elongate flame to maintain a predetermined temperature in the secondary combustion chamber to support combustion and to aid in causing agenerally cyclonic flow of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber. An exhaust stack means is provided having one end thereof openinginto the secondary combustion chamber and the other end thereof opening into the atmosphere of allowing the exhausting or purified gases remaining after burning in the secondary combustion chamber.

Preferably, the transition conduit means has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape with the long dimension thereof extending transversely of the secondary combustion chamber and the secondary air supply means for the secondary combustion chamber and the burner means open into the short dimension side of the transition conduit for introducing a stream of air and a flame across the generally vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion flowing through the transition conduit such that when the stream of secondary air and the flame are contacted by the flow of the products of incomplete combustion a cooperation therebetween will be effected which will cause a tangential entry of the products of incomplete combustion and secondary air into the secondary combustion chamber and a cyclonic flow of the same through at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a perforate incandescent screen means positioned transversely across the hollow interior of the secondary combustion chamber intermediate the ends thereof and intermediate the entry of the transition conduit means and the exhaust stack means into the secondary combustion chamber for providing an additional burning means for the products of incomplete combustion received in the secondary combustion chamber as they flow through the incandescent screen means and for producing a partial obstacle to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion so as to obtain proper mixing thereof with the secondary air and to increase the length of time the products of incomplete combustion remain in the secondary combustion chamber to insure complete burning thereof.

Further, a preferred exhaust stack means utilized with the apparatus of this invention may comprise an elongate, openended hollow casing having one end thereof opening into the secondary combustion chamber, a plurality of spaced-apart, elongate, open-ended, hollow tubes disposed within the casing for receiving the remaining gases from the secondary combustion chamber and allowing the gases to pass therethrough for exhausting therefrom, and baffle means mounted near the respective ends of the exhaust stack means and having apertures therein communicating with the tubes for defining a heat exchanger chamber between the respective ends of the exhaust stack means and around the spaced-apart tubes and for allowing the flow and exhausting of the remaining gases through the tubes and for preventing the flow of the remaining gases into the heat exchanger chamber around the tubes. Both the main combustion chamber air supply means and the secondary combustion chamber air supply means may include means for passing the secondary air supplied thereby through the heat exchanger chamber in the stack means for the heating of same prior to the introduction of the secondary air into the combustion chambers to aid in combustion therein.

Some of the objects and advantages of this invention having been stated, other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the air purifying incinerator apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the air purifying apparatus of FIG. 1 and taken from the left-hand side of FIG. 1.;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the air purifying incinerator apparatus of FIG. 1 taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air purifying incinerator apparatus of FIG. 1 taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

3,543,7llb

MG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the air purifying apparatus of HG. l and taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the preferred exhaust stack means and heat exchanger chamber and taken generally along the line 6-6 of FlG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic and diagrammatic view of the incinerator apparatus of Fit]. 1 illustrating the controls therefor;

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view of a modified form of the incinerator apparatus of this invention illustrating a textile fiber waste charging means therewith; and

H6. 9 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the apparatus of PEG. ii and taken generally along the line 9-9 of P168.

Referring now to the drawings, the preferred form of the incinerator apparatus of this invention is illustrated in FlGS. l- -7 and generally designated therein by the reference numeral lb.

The air purifying incinerator apparatus ltl comprises a first, generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing l2 defining internally a main combustion chamber 113 for the burning of waste material therein. The housing 12 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape and is suitably supported in its generally horizontally-extending position by any suitable leg members ill. The housing 12 comprises an outer metallic casing 13 and an inner lining of refractory material 14. The outer metallic casing 13 and the inner lining of refractory material lid may be of any convenient type which is normally used in incinerator apparatus and preferably of the type which will allow temperatures of around l500 F. in the combustion chamber 13 while not excessively heating the outside metallic casing lit.

The housing l2 defining the main combustion chamber 13 includes an access means for charging the main combustion chamber 13 with waste material. This access means may be in the form of a opening to into the front wall of the housing l2 and being defined by and lined with the refractory lining M, as indicated in H6. 3. This opening id is covered by a door member 17 which is also formed of a metallic outer casing and an inner refractory lining and is suitably shaped to completely close the opening in when in a closed position. The door 17 is suitably mounted in tracltways Ell and 21 which are secured in any suitable manner to the front wall of the housing 112 and which extend vertically upwardly therefrom in parallel relationship so that the door 17 may be moved up and down along the trackways 26B and 23 for opening and closing the opening it) through the housing 12 into the main combustion chamber 13. For moving the door 17 up and down along the tracltways 2b and 211, the door 117 is mounted on the ends of chain members 22 and 23 which extend around pulleys 24 and 2,5 respectively. The pulleys 24 and 25 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 26 secured to the upper end of tracltways 2t) and El. The other end of the chain members 22 and 23 carry suitable weights 27 so as to retain the door 17 in either an upward position away from the opening to or in a downward position closing the opening 16; in a well understood manner.

The main combustion chamber 13 has associated therewith an air supply means for supplying air thereto to support combustion therein. This air supply includes an undertire air supply and an overfire air supply, as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 8.

The underl'ire air supply is in the form of air conduim El and 31 extending longitudinally of and positioned on each side of the lower portion of the housing 12 defining the main combustion chamber l3, as may be seen in lFlGS. 1-5. These air conduits 3b and 31 are closed on their forward end near the doormeans l7 and are connected with a transversely extending manifold or conduit 32 at their rear end. The conduit 32 is connected at generally a central portion thereof with a valve means 33 which is suitably operated to open and close for a.- lowing and preventing the flow of air therethrough into the conduit 32 and into the two conduits and 31. Air is supplied to the valve 33 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Lil

Each of the air supply conduits 3d and Bill include a plurality of inwardly extending spaced ports 35 and respectively which extend through the metallic casing 313 and the refractory lining 14. of the housing 12 so as to supply underiire air along a lower surface of the primary combustion chamber l3 in the manner shown in H68. 3 and 43.

For supplying overfire air to the main combustion chamber 13, there are provided a pair of air flow conduits All and secured to each longitudinally extending side of the housing l2 along the upper portion thereof. The conduit dll and 4?. are closed at their forward ends and the other ends thereof open into a transversely extending manifold or conduit 52 which receives air from a valve 33 connected thereto at generally a medial portion thereof such that air will flow into the conduit 32 and the conduits 40 and 41 when the valve member 43 is open and air will be prevented from flowing into these conduits when the valve member is closed. Air is supplied to the valve member 43 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Each of the conduits lb and ll include a plurality of spaced-apart transversely extending ports 45 and 46, respectively, which extend through the metallic housing 113 and the refractory lining 14 in staggered relationship to communicate with the interior of the main combustion chamber 13 for supplying overfire air in a turbulent condition to the main cornbustion chamber lid for supporting combustion therein in the manner illustrated in H68. 3 and d.

The air purifying incinerator apparatus ill further comprises a second, independent, generally horizontallycxtending, enclosed, hollow housing fall defining internally a secondary combustion chamber 51 for receiving the products of incomplete combustion or the gases to be further burned from the main combustion chamber 13 and for burning same therein. The second housing 50 is a completely separate structure of generally the same shape as the first housing l2 and superimposed on the top of and arranged generally parallel with the first housing 12 by any suitable mounting means. The housing 5% also comprises an outer metallic casing 5i and an inner lining of refractory material 52 of the same type of 7 material as the metallic casing 13 and the refractory liner The second housing 50 includes a removable door or plug member 5d for providing access to the interior of the secondary combustion chamber 5i for the removing of remaining residue therefrom after burning therein.

For providing a flow and path of travel for the products of incomplete combustion from the main combustion chamber l3 to the secondary combustion chamber 51, there is provided a generally vertically-extending, hollow, transition conduit 60 having the bottom end thereof opening into the main combustion chamber l3 adjacent one end thereof and having the upper end opening into the secondary combustion chamber 5i adjacent one end thereof, as may be seen in HG. 3, for allowing the passage therethrough in a generally vertical direction of the products of incomplete combustion or gases to be burned from the main combustion chamber 13 into the secondary combustion chamber 51.

The transition conduit 60 is constructed of a metallic outer casing 61 and an inner lining of refractory material 62 of the same type as metallic lining 13 and 52 and refractory linings l4 and 53 utilized in the first and second housings l2 and 5b.

. The transition conduit tit) has a generally rectangular, horizon tal, cross-sectional shape, as shown in H68. 3 and 4, with the long dimension sides 65 extending transversely of the longitudinal axes of the first and second combustion chambers 13 and 51 and the short dimension sides 66 extending parallel with the longitudinal axes of the first and second combustion chainbers l3 and 51, as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and d. This arrangement provides a maximum length of travel of the products of incomplete combustion for secondary burning in the secondary combustion chamber 51 inasmuch as the opening of the transition conduit so into the secondary combustion chamber 51 only occupies a space required by the short dimension side of the transition conduit btl along the longitudinal axis of the secondary combustion chamber 51.

For supplying secondary air to the secondary combustion chamber 51 to support combustion therein for the burning of the products of incomplete combustion, there is provided an air supply means associated with the secondary combustion chamber 51 and with the transition conduit 60 for introducing secondary air tangentially into the secondary combustion chamber 51 and for aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of both the secondary air and the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber 51 to provide proper mixing therebetween and to create turbulence and drag to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber 51 to insure complete secondary burning thereof, as will be explained in more detail below.

This air supply means comprises an air conduit 70 extending longitudinally of the first and second housings 12 and 50 and along one of the short dimension sides 66 of the transition conduit 60. A second conduit 71 is connected with the conduit 7t) and extends transversely therefrom to open into the interior of the transition conduit 60 at one of the short dimension sides 66 thereof, as may be seen clearly in FIGS. 3 and i, to provide a flow of secondary air across the long dimension of the transition conduit 60. This flow of air from the conduit 73. into the transition conduit 60 is generally in a horizontal direction when entering the transition conduit 60; however, when this generally horizontal flow of secondary air is contacted by the generally vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion or gases to be burned flowing from the main combustion chamber 13 into the secondary combustion chamber 51 through the transition conduit 60, the horizontal flow of secondary air and the vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion will coact with each other to cause a generally tangential'entry of both into the secondary combustion chamber 51, in the manner shown in FIG. 4. This tangential entry of the mixture of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air will cause a generally cyclonic flow of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air through at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber 51, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, to cause turbulence and drag to the flow in the secondary combustion chamber 51 increasing the dwell time of these gases therein and cause them to flow against the surface of the refractory material 53 to provide proper mixing of the products of incomplete combustion in the secondary air and to cause any solid particles therein to drop out for insuring complete burning thereof in the secondary combustion chamber 51.

The forward end of the air supply conduit 70 is closed and a further conduit 71 is attached thereto and leads therefrom to a hollow cavity in the refractory material 14 surrounding the opening 16 into the first housing 12. A plurality of ports 72 lead from the hollow cavity to communicate with the opening l6 into the housing 12 so as to provide a curtain of air around the opening 16 of the housing 12 to prevent the escape of gases or other materials from the primary combustion chamber 13 when the door 17 is open. Air is supplied to the conduit 70 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The incinerator apparatus further comprises a selectively operable burner means 75 for introducing an elongate flame to maintain a predetermined temperature in the secondary combustion chamber 51 to support combustion therein and for aiding in causing the generally cyclonic flow of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air in at least a portion of the secondary combustion chamber. This burner means 75 comprises any suitable type including pressure gas or oil burner mounted on the outside of the short dimension side of the transition conduit 60 which contains the air supply means, described above, for supplying secondary air to the secondary combustion chamber 51, as may be seen in FIG, 4. The burner means 75 is mounted adjacent the opening of the transition conduit 60 into the secondary combustion chamber for introducing'an elongate flame across the flow of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air entering the secondary combustion chamber 5B for cooperating therewith to aid in causing the generally tangential entry of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air into the secondary combustion chamber 51, as shown in FlG. 4.

Thus, it may be seen that the introduction of the secondary air in a generally initially horizontal path of flow across the long dimension of the transition conduit aids and cooperates with the generally vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion through the transition conduit to cause the tangential entry thereof into the secondary combustion chamber for producing a generally cyclonic flow, as discussed above.

The burner 75 includes an air supply conduit 76 connected therewith for supplying air thereto to support the flame introduced thereby. The air supply conduit 76 is connected with an air supply conduit 70. Also, the burner 75 includes a fuel supply conduit 78 leading therein and which includes a selectively operable valve 79 therein for shutting off and allowing the supply of fuel to the burner 75, as desired. The fuel supply conduit 78 is connected with any suitable fuel supply, as indicated schematically in FIG. 1.

The secondary combustion chamber 51 includes, adjacent the other end thereof opposite the end in which the transition conduit 60 opens therein, a generally vertically-extending, open-ended, exhaust stack means 80 having one end thereof communicating with the interior of the secondary combustion chamber 51 and the other end thereof opening into the atmosphere for allowing the exhausting of gases remaining after burning in the secondary combustion chamber.

The secondary combustion chamber 51 further comprises an incandescent screen means positioned transversely across the hollow interior of the secondary combustion chamber 51 intermediate the ends thereof and intermediate the entry of the transition conduit 60 and the exhaust stack means 80, as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. This incandescent screen means provides an additional burning medium for the products of incomplete combustion received in the secondary combustion chamber 51 as they flow through the incandescent screen means 85 and produces a partial obstacle to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion so as to obtain proper mixing thereof with the secondary air and to increase the length of time the products of incomplete combustion remain in the secondary combustion chamber to insure complete burning thereof.

The incandescent screen means comprises a wall of individual refractory brick 86 extending transversely across the entire secondary combustion chamber 51 and arranged in a lattice arrangement for .the upper portion thereof with openings between the brick 86 and in a solid arrangement in the lower portion thereof, as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. This lattice arrangement in the upper portion provides openings for the flow of the products of incomplete combustion therethrough while providing an obstacle thereto to slow up the flow therethrough and to force the products of incomplete combustion to remain in the secondary combustion chamber a greater period of time. The solid or imperforate lower portion thereof prevents the flow of the products of incomplete combustion through the incandescent screen means at the lower portion thereof which is closest to the transition conduit 60 so that the products of incomplete combustion are forced to flow in their cyclonic path of travel around the portion of the secondary combustion chamber on the forward side of the incandescent screen means 85. The lattice arrange ment produces a laminar flow of the products of incomplete combustion therethrough which aid in precipitation of particulates or solids therefrom.

The nature of the refractory brick are such that whena sufficient temperature is reached in the secondary combustion chamber, the brick themselves will heat up to a point causing and aiding in a combustion or burning of the products of incomplete combustion in a manner well understood to those with ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2 and 6, a preferred form of an exhaust stack means fill is shown therein. This exhaust stack means comprises an elongate, open-ended hollow casing 94 having one end thereof opening into the secondary combustion charnber i, and a plurality of spaced-apart, elongate, open-ended, hollow tubes 91 disposed within the casing 98 for receiving the remaining gases from the secondary combustion chamber 51 and allowing the gases to pass therethrough for exhausting therefrom. The tubes 91 are mounted within the casing 98 by a pair of baffle plates 92; and 93 secured to the interior of the casing 90 and having openings therein for the passage of the tubes 9i therethrough but acting to prevent the passage of the gases from the secondary combustion chamber 511 into the space surrounding the tubes @ll.

The above-defined space between the tubes 91 and between the baffle plates 92 an 93 within the hollow casing 9d defines a heat exchanger chamber, generally indicated by 23 between the respective ends of the exhaust stack means. Also disposed within the heat exchanger chamber 93 are additional baffle plates 5'4 and 95 which extend partially across the heat exchanger chamber 93 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Attached to the upper portion of the casing 9d of the exhaust stack means 8% and communicating with the interior of the heat exchanger chamber @3 in the space around the tubes 91 is in air conveying conduit 96 which conveys forced air from any suitable driven blower 97 adapted to pull in air from the surrounding atmosphere and force it through the air conveying conduit 96 into the heat exchanger chamber 93, as indicated by the arrows in FlG. 2.

The air entering the heat exchanger chamber 93 is forced in a curved path of travel around the tubes 9K and around the baffles 9 1 and @5 in the manner indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. inasmuch as the gases being exhausted from the secondary combustion chamber 52 are hot gases, the tubes 511 will be heated and will in turn heat the air flowing through the heat exchanger chamber 93. This heated air, exits out of the bottom of the heat exchanger chamber 93 to another air conveying conduit 98 which extends therefrom and communicates with the interior thereof. The air conveying conduit 97 leads to and connects at the other end thereof with a manifold or additional air conveying conduit 99, as may be seen in FlGS. ll, 2. and 5. This manifold or air conveying conduit 99 is generally vertically extending and receives the other end of the air conveying conduit 76, the other end of the valve member 43 connected to the air conveying conduit ll), and the other end of the valve member 33 which supplies air to the air conveying conduits 32 and 30.

Thus, it may be seen, that heated air is supplied as the underfire and overiire air to the primary combustion chamber 13 and as the secondary air to the secondary combustion chamber Sll for providing already heated air to these chambers so that the same will not lose the combustion temperatures attained therein.

if the heat exchanger feature of the exhaust stack means 80 is not utilized and the exhaust stack means tit) is simply a stack for the exhausting of the gases from the secondary combustion chamber 51, then the incinerator apparatus it) will simply utilize any conventional blower connected into the manifold or air conduit 9? for supplying air thereto.

Referring now to PEG. 7, there is shown diagrammatically and schematically a simple system of electricm controls for controlling the flow of underfire air andoverfire air to the main combustion chamber 13 and the operation of the burner '75 for the secondary combustion chamber 511. As shown therein, this electrical system comprises a first electrical conveying line 1% and a second electrical conveying line Mill which respectively lead from a source of power and to a grounding source (not shown). The line we includes a branch W2 which is opened and closed by a main off-on apparatus switch 103 interposed therein. The line W2 leads from the other side of the switch it)? to a contact in a suitable solenoid 104 adapted when energized to open the valve 79 in the gas supply line 78 to the burner 75. The other contact of the solenoid 1W.- is connected to a line W5 which leads to a line ltlfu leading into any convenient thermally operated thermostat M97 disposed in the secondary combustion chamber for reading the temperature therein. The thermostat is als operatively connected with the electrical conveying line M l so as to complete the circuit therethrough back to ground.

Thus, it may be seen from the above-described component circuit, that if the main switch m3 is closed for operation of the incinerator apparatus til, then the valve '?9 for suppiying gas to the selectively operable burner '75 will be controlled by the thermostat W7 such that when the temperature within the secondary combustion chamber reaches a certain predetermined point, the thermostat will break the circuit to deenergize the solenoid ms to close the valve 7% and shut off the supply of gas to the burner '75 to stop operation of the burner and when the temperature within the combustion chamber 5 drops below a predetermined point, the thermostat M37 will close the circuit to again energize the solenoid to open t .e valve i5 and allow the flow of gas into the burner 79 so that the burner may again be operated to support combustion and raise the temperature in the secondary combustion chamber 511 to the aforementioned predetermined point.

The thermostat M97 also controls the valve 32 for supplying underfire air to the primary combustion chamber l3. This is accomplished by the line 1% leading to one contact of a solenoid lib which when energized closes the valve for the underfire air. The other contact of the solenoid lid is connected to a line ill which connects with the line Mil to complete the circuit to ground. Thus, when the temperature in the secondary combustion chamber reaches a predetermined degree, the thermostat Pill? breaks the circuit through the solenoid to open the valve 32 to supply underfire to the primary combustion chamber 13. Likewise, when the temperature in the secondary combustion chamber 51 drops below a predetermined degree, the the rmostat W7 makes the circuit through the solenoid lit) to close the valve 32 to prevent the flow of underfire air into the primary combustion chamber l3.

For controlling the overfire air in the primary combustion chamber 13, the valve 43 is actuated by a suitable solenoid 115 which is connected to a suitable temperature responsive thermostat U6 disposed in the primary combustion chamber 13 through an electrical conveying line 117. The thermostat Elle is also connected by a line llllti to the line Ml-2 which is connected to the initial line leading to the source of power. The other contact of the solenoid valve M5 is connected to the line 101 by a line 119 to complete the circuit through the thermostat and the solenoid 1115 to ground through the line 101. When the temperature in the primary combustion chamber 13 reaches a predetermined temperature, the circuit through the thermostat H6 is broken causing the the solenoid 1115 to be deactivated which in turn opens the valve 43 to allow the flow of air through conduit 43d and into the combustion chamber H as overfire air. Likewise, when the temperature in the primary combustion chamber i3 drops below a predetermined degree, the circuit through the thermostat lid is made which actuates the solenoid to close the valve d3 and prevent-the flow of overfire air into the primary combustion chamber.

As a safety precaution, a switch 115 is associated with the door 17 to the primary-combustion chamber 13 in such a manner as to be closed when the door 17 is closed and to be open when the door 17 is open. The switch 115 is disposed in the line 1011 leading to ground such that when the switch is open the circuit to ground through line Mill is broken and when the switch 115 is closed the circuit through the line lull to ground is made. Accordingly, if the door 17 to the primary combustion chamber 13 is open, the switch 115 will open to break the entire circuit to all of the above described component parts.

As an example of an operating procedure for a typical commercial embodiment of the incinerator apparatus 11110, the unit may be initially charged with approximately 250 pounds 0: normal waste material. A minimum of 8 inches between the top of the waste and the bottom of the overfire inlet ports 45 and 46 should be maintained. The waste material is ignited manually or otherwise by any suitable means and the door 17 to the primary combustion chamber is closed. The main apparatus switch 103 is then engaged which activates the above described circuits. The burner '75 for the secondary combustion chamber will ignite inasmuch as the circuit through the thermostat 107 is made and the incinerator apparatus will begin to operate. When the temperature in the primary or lower combustion chamber 13 reaches approximately 650, the circuit through the thermostat 116 therein will be broken which will deenergize the solenoid 115 to open the valve 43 for allowing the flow of air through conduit 40 into the primary combustion chamber 13 as overfire air. The incinerator apparatus will continue to operate thusly until the temperature in the upper or secondary combustion chamber 51 reaches approximately 1450 which will break the circuit through the thermostat 107 to deenergize the solenoid 104 closing the valve 79 for the gas supply to the burner 75 and thereby shut off the burner 75. Additionally, the solenoid 110 will be deenergized to open the valve 32 to allow the flow of air through conduit and into the primary combustion chamber 13 as underfire air. If the temperature in the secondary combustion chamber 51 drops below 1450", the circuit through the thermostat 107 will be made to energize the solenoid 104 for allowing operation of the burner 75 and for energizing the solenoid 110 to shut off flow of underfire air into the primary combustion chamber 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated therein a modified form of the incinerator apparatus, generally designated at 10. This apparatus 10 of FIGS. 8 and 9 includes essentially the same component parts as the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 except that the door 17 of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 is replaced with a waste charging means, generally indicated in FIGS. 8 and 9 by the numeral 120, for charging the apparatus 10' with any desired lofted waste material, such as saw dust, textile fibers, grain waste, etc. Also, the apparatus 10' of FIGS. 3 and 9 includes a burner member 121 extending into the primary combustion chamber. Accordingly, the component parts of the apparatus of FIGS. 8 and 9 which are like the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 will not be described and are indicatcd in the drawing by the same reference numerals with a prime notation thereon.

The waste charging means 120 of the apparatus 10 of vFIGS. B and 9 comprises a conduit 122 attached to the front wall of the housing 12' of the primary combustion chamber 13 and opening thereinto. The conduit 122 is connected at the other end thereof to a fan or blower unit 123 which also receives the forward end of an additional conduit 124 leading from a source of waste material, such as fibers or the like. The charging means 120 operates such that the blower unit 123 will cause a negative pressure to remove the waste material from the source and force it through the conduit 122 into the primary combustion chamber 13 in a generally horizontal path of flow along the longitudinally extending axis of the primary combustion chamber 13'.

The burner unit 121 is also mounted on the front wall of the housing 12' of the primary combustion chamber 13 in such a manner as to introduce an elongate flame into the primary combustion chamber 13' at a downwardly extending angle to the longitudinal axis thereof so that the elongate flame will contact the flow of waste material entering therein, in the manner shown in FIG. 8. This will provide the initial ignition of the waste material in the primary combustion chamber 13 for incinerating this material. The apparatus 10 of FIGS. 8 and 9 further operates in the same manner as described above in connection with the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 and additionally includes a removable door 126 immediately below the conduits 122 for cleaning out of ashes and other materials from the primary combustion chamber 13.

It is to be understood that the apparatus forming the secondary combustion chamber of this invention and the transition conduit introducing products of incomplete combustion or gases to be burned therein along with the associated secondary air supply, burner, etc., could be utilized with other types of main combustion chambers for the burning of products of incomplete combustion received therefrom or could be used with any type of industrial system for use in the burning of chemical fumes therefrom or for use in burning any type of combustibles contained in gases prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere. Thus, it may be seen, that this invention has provided an improved air purifying incinerator apparatus which will satisfactorily purify gases prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere and which will may be used in combination with a main incinerator system or for use in receiving any types of gases which contain combustible and pollutants and purifying same prior to exhausting into the atmosphere.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

We claim:

1. Air purifying incinerator apparatus for the disposing of waste material comprising:

a. first, generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a combustion chamber for the burning of waste material therein and including an access means for charging said main combustion chamber with waste material;

b. air supply means associated with said main combustion chamber for supplying secondary air thereto to support combustion therein:

c. second, independent, generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a generally cylindrical secondary combustion chamber for receiving the products of incomplete combustion from said main combustion chamber and for burning same therein;

d. generally vertically-extending, hollow, transition conduit means opening at one end thereof into said main combustion chamber and opening at the other end thereof into said secondary combustion chambers for allowing the passage therethrough in a generally vertical direction of the products of incomplete combustion from said main combustion chamber into said secondary combustion chamber;

e. air supply means associated with said secondary combustion chamber and with said transition conduit for introducing secondary air tangentially into said secondary combustion chamber to support combustion therein and for aiding in causing-a generally cyclonic flow of both the secondary air and the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of said secondary combustion chamber to provide proper mixing therebetween and to create turbulence and drag to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of said secondary combustion chamber to ensure complete secondary burning thereof;

f. selectively operable burner means associated with said secondary combustion chamber and said transition conduit means for. introducing an elongated flame to maintain a predetermined temperature in said secondary combustion chamber to support combustion and for aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of the products of incomplete combustion and the secondary air in at least a portion of said secondary combustion chamber; and

g. exhaust stack means having one end thereof opening into said secondary combustion chamber and the other end thereof opening into the atmosphere for allowing the exhausting of gases remaining after burning in said secondary combustion chamber.

2. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, 5, as set forth in claim 1, in which said transition conduit means connecting said main combustion chamber with said secondary combustion chamber opens into said secondary combustion chamber adjacent one end thereof and said exhaust stack means opens into said secondary combustion chamber adjacent the other end thereof and in which said transition conduit means has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape with the long dimension thereof extending transversely of said secondary combustion chamber to allow a maximum length of travel of the products of incomplete combustion for secondary burning in said secondary combustion chamber.

El. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, in which said air supply means for supplying secondary air to said secondary combustion chamber opens into said transition conduit means at one of the short dimension sides thereof for introducing a stream of air initially in a generally horizontal direction across the long dimension of said transition conduit means and which when contacted by the generally vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion through said transition conduit means will cooperate therewith to aid in causing the tangential entry of the products of incomplete combustion and secondary air into said secondary combustion chamber and the cyclonic flow through at least a portion thereof.

4. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, in which said burner means opens into said transition conduit means at one of the short dimension sides thereof and adjacent the opening of said transition conduit means into said secondary combustion chamber for introducing an elongate flame across the generally vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion entering said secondary combustion chamber for cooperating therewith to aid in causing the tangential entry of the products of incomplete combustion and secondary air into said secondary combustion chamber and the cyclonic flow through at least a portion thereof.

5. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim l, in which said exhaust stack means comprises an elongate, open-ended hollow casing having one end thereof opening into said secondary combustion chamber, a plurality of spaced-apart, elongate, open-ended, hollow tubes disposed within said casing for receiving the remaining gases from said secondary chamber and allowing the gases to pass therethrough for exhausting therefrom, and baffle means mounted near the respective ends of said exhaust stack means and having apertures therein communicating with said tubes for defining a heat exchanger chamber between the respective ends of said exhaust stack means and around said spacedapart tubes and for allowing the flow and exhausting of the remaining gases through said tubes and for preventing the flow of the remaining gases into said heat exchanger chamber around said tubes; and in which both said main combustion chamber air supply means and said secondary combustion chamber air supply means include means for passing secondary air supplied thereby through said heat exchanger chamber in said stack means for the heating of same prior to introduction of the secondary air into said combustion chambers to aid in combustion therein.

6. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim l, in which said apparatus includes a perforate incandescent screen means positioned transversely across the hollow interior of said secondary combustion chamber intermediate the ends thereof and intermediate the entry of said transition conduit means and said exhaust stack means into said secondary combustion chamber for providing an additional burning means for the products of incomplete combustion. Received in said secondary combustion chamber as they flow through said incandescent screen means and for producing a partial obstacle to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion so as to obtain proper mixing thereof with the secondary air and to increase the length of time the products of incomplete combustion remain in said secondary combustion chamber to insure complete burning thereof.

'7. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, in which said incandescent screen comprises a refractory brick wall in which at least a portion of the bricks therein are disposed in a lattice arrangement to provide openings in said wall for flow therethrough.

b. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim '7, in which the lower portion of said brick wall is impcrforate for providing a greater obstacle to the flow therethrough.

Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim ll, in which said access means for charging said main combustion chamber with waste material comprises an elongate, hollow conduit means having one open end thereof attached to said first housing means and communicating with said combustion chamber defined thereby and the other end thereof being adapted to receive fibrous material for the conveying thereof into the main combustion chamber, said conduit means including a blower means for creating an air flow through said conduit means for the conveying of fibrous material from the fibrous material receiving end through said conduit means and into said main combustion chamber for the disposing thereof.

Ml. Air purifying incinerator apparatus for the disposing of waste material comprising:

a. first, generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a main combustion chamber for the burning of waste material therein and including an access means for charging said main cornbustion chamber with waste material;

0. air supply means associated with said main combustion chamber for supplying secondary air thereto to support combustion therein;

c. second, independent, generally horizontally=extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a generally cylindrical secondary combustion chamber for receiving the products of incomplete combustion from said main combustion chamber and for burning same therein;

d. generally vertically-extending, hollow, transition conduit means opening at one end thereof into said main combustion chamber and opening at the other end thereof into said secondary combustion chamber adjacent one end thereof for allowing the passage therethrough in a generally vertical direction of the products of incomplete, combustion from said main combustion chamber into said secondary combustion chamber, said transition conduit means having a generally rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape with the long dimension thereof e tending transversely of said secondary combustion chamber to allow a maximum length of travel of the products of incomplete combustion for secondary hurning in said secondary combustion chamber;

. air supply means for supplying secondary air to said secondary combustion chamber and opening into said transition conduit means at one of the short dimension sides thereof for introducing a stream of air initially in generally horizontal direction across the long dimension of said transition conduit means and which when contacted by the generally vertical flow of the products of incomplete combustion through said transition conduit means will cooperate therewith to aid in causing a tangential entry of the products of incomplete combustion and secondary air into said secondary combustion chamber for aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of both the secondary air and the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of said secondary combustion chamber to provide proper mixing therebetween and to create turbulence and drag to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion in at least a portion of said secondary combustion chamber to insure complete secondary burning thereof;

f. selectively operable burner. means opening into said transition conduit means at the short dimension side in which said secondary air supply opens therein and adjacent the opening of said transition conduit means into said secondary combustion chamber for introducing a flame across the flow of the products of incomplete combustion and secondary air entering said secondary com bustion chamber for aiding in creating the tangential entry and cyclonic flow thereof and for maintaining a predetermined temperature in said secondary combustion chamber to support combustion; and

g. exhaust stack means having one end thereof opening into the other end of said secondary combustion chamber and the other end thereof opening into the atmosphere for allowing the exhausting of gases remaining after burning in said secondary combustion chamber.

11. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, in which said exhaust stack means comprises an elongate, open-ended, hollow casing having one end thereof opening into said secondary combustion chamber, a plurality of spaced-apart, elongate, open-ended, hollow tubes disposed within said casing for receiving the remaining gases from said secondary chamber and allowing the gases to pass therethrough for exhausting therefrom, and baffle means mounted near the respective ends of said exhaust stack means and having apertures therein communicating with said tubes for defining a heat exchanger chamber between the respective ends of said exhaust stack means and around said spacedapart tubes and for allowing the flow and exhausting of the remaining gases through said tubes and for preventing the flow of the remaining gases into said heat exchanger chamber around said tubes; and in which both said main combustion chamber air supply means and said secondary combustion chamber air supply means include means for passing secondary air supplied thereby through said heat exchanger chamber in said stack means for the heating of same prior to introduction of the secondary air into said combustion chambers to aid in combustion therein.

12. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, in which said apparatus includes a perforate incandescent screen means positioned transversely across'the hollow interior of said secondary combustion chamber intermediate the ends thereof and intermediate the entry of said transition conduit means and said exhaust stack means into said secondary combustion chamber for providing an additional burning means for the products of incomplete combustion received in said secondary combustion chamber as they flow through said incandescent screen means and for producing a partial obstacle to the flow of the products of incomplete combustion so as to obtain proper mixing thereof with the secondary air and to increase the length of time the products of incomplete combustion remain in said secondary combustion chamber to insure complete burningthereof.

13. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, in which said incandescent screen comprises a refractory brick wall in which at least a portion of the bricks therein are disposed in a lattice arrangement to provide openings in said wall for flow therethrough.

14. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, in which the lower portion of said brick wall is imperforate for providing a greater obstacle to the flow therethrough.

15. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, in which said access means for charging said main combustion chamber with waste material comprises an elongate, hollow conduit means having one open end thereof attached to said first housing means and communicating with said main combustion chamber defined thereby and the other end thereof being adapted to receive lofted material for the conveying thereof into the main combustion chamber, said conduit means including a blower means for creating an air flow through said conduit means for conveying of fibrous material from the fibrous material receiving end through said conduit means and into said main combustion chamber for the disposing thereof.

l6. Air purifying incinerator apparatus adapted for use with main combustion chamber for the burning of products of incomplete combustion therefrom, for use in the burning of chemical fumes from an industrial operation, and for use in burning any type of combustibles contained in gases prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere, said apparatus comprisa. generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing means defining internally a generally cylindrical combustion chamber for receiving gases to be purified and for burning same therein;

b. generally vertically-extending, hollow conduit means opening atone end thereof into said combustion chamber and adapted to receive the gases to be purified at the other end thereof and allow their passage therethrough in a generally vertical direction into said combustion chamber;

0. air supply means associated with said combustion chamber and with said conduit means for introducing secondary air tangentially into said combustion chamber to support combustion therein and for aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of both the secondary air and the gases to be burned in at least a portion of said combustion chamber to provide proper mixing therebtween and to create turbulence and drag to the flow of the gases in at least a portion of said combustion chamber to insure complete burning thereof;

d. selectively operable burner means associated with said combustion chamber and said conduit means for introducing an elongate flame to maintain a predetermined temperature in said combustion chamber to support combustion and for aiding in causing a generally cyclonic flow of the gases and the secondary air in at least a portion of said combustion chamber; and

e. exhaust stack means having one end thereof opening into said combustion chamber and the other end thereof opening into the atmosphere for allowing the exhausting of gases remaining after burning in said combustion chamber.

17. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 16, in which said apparatus includes a perforate incandescent screen means positioned transversely across the hollow interior of said combustion chamber intermediate the ends thereof and intermediate the entry of said conduit means and said exhaust stack means into said combustion chamber for providing an additional burning means for the gases received in said combustion chamber as they flow through said incandescent screen means and for providing a partial obstacle to the flow of the gases so as to obtain proper mixing thereof with the secondary air and to increase the length of time the gases remain in said combustion chamber to insure complete burning thereof.

18. Air purifying incinerator apparatus, as set forth in claim 16, in which said exhaust stack means comprises an elongate, open-ended, hollow casing having one end thereof opening into said secondary combustion chamber, a plurality of spaced-apart, elongate, open-ended, hollow tubes disposed within said casing for receiving the remaining gases from said combustion chamber and allowing the gases to pass therethrough for exhausting therefrom, and baffle means mounted near the respective ends of said exhaust stack means and having apertures therein communicating with said tubes for defining a heat exchanger chamber between the respective ends of said exhaust stack means and around said spacedapart tubes and for allowing the flow and exhausting of the remaining gases through said tubes and for preventing the flow of the remaining gases into said heat exchanger chamber around said tubes; and in which said combustion chamber air supply means include means for passing the air supplied thereby through said heat exchanger chamber in said stack means for the heating of same prior to introduction of the air into said combustion chambers to aid in combustion therein.

19. Air purifying incinerator apparatus adapted for use with a main combustion chamber for the burning of products of incomplete combustion received therefrom, for use in the burning of chemical fumes from an industrial operation, and for use in burning any type of combustibles contained in gases prior to exhausting same into the atmosphere, said apparatus comprising:

3,543 ins a. generally horizontally-extending, enclosed, hollow housing mean defining internally a generally cylindrical cornbustion chamber for receiving gases to be purified and for burning same therein;

b. generally vertically-extending, hollow conduit means opening at one end thereof into said combustion chamber and adapted to receive the gases to be purified at the other thereof and allow their passage therethrough in a generally vertical direction into said combustion chamber, said conduit means having a generally rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape with the long dimension thereof extending transversely of said combustion chamber to allow a maximum length of travel of the gases for burning in said combustion chamber;

c. air supply means for supplying secondary air to said combustion chamber and opening into said conduit means at one of the short dimension sides thereof for introducing a stream of air initially in a generally horizontal direction across the long dimension of said conduit means and which when contacted by the generally vertical flow of the gases to be burned through said conduit means will cooperate therewith to aid in causing a tangential entry of the gases to be burned and the secondary air into said llti:

combustion chamber for aiding in causing-a generally cyclonic flow of both the gases to be burned and the secondary air in at least a portion of said combustion chamber to provide mixing therebetween and to create turbulence and drag to the flow of the gases in at least a portion of said combustion chamber to insure complete burning thereof;

. selectively operable burner means opening into said conduit means at the short dimension side in which secondary air supply opens therein and adjacent the opening of said conduit means into said combustion chamber for introducing a flame across the flow of the gases and secondary air entering said combustion chamber for aiding in creating the tangential entry and cyclonic flow thereof and for maintaining a predetermined temperature in said combustion chamber to support combustion; and

. exhaust stack means having one end thereof opening into the other end of sad combustion chamber and the other end thereof opening into the atmosphere for allowing the exhausting of gases remaining after burning in said cornbustion chamber.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION P e 700 Dated December 1, 1970 Inventor(s) Joseph F. Baigas, Jr., et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

(The numerals applied to the lines of the patent do not correspond to the actual lines, and the following corrections refer to the actual numbered lines) The reference numeral "13" after "chamber" should be deleted in the following places: Column 3, lines 21, 31, 33, 35, 57, 65; Column 4, lines 5, 23, 32, 49, 54; Column 5, lines 29, 56; Column 7, lines 49, 6 Column 8, lines 24, 33, 37, 39, 49, 53, 54, 60, 67; and Column 9, line 10, 14, 23, 28, 54. Column 1, line 26, "and" should read --a.n-. Column 2, line 6, "of" should read --for-- and "or should read --of-. Column 3, line 48, "13" should be deleted. Column 4, line 8, "13" Shot be deleted; line 10, 'conduit" should read -conduits--; line 25, "14" should be deleted; line 37, "51' should read 52--; line 38, "52" shou'. read -53--; line 46, "13" should be deleted; line 63, "13 and" should 1 deleted; line 64, "51" should be deleted; line 66, 13 and 51" should be deleted. Column 7, line 16 "an" should read --and-; lines 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 30, 36 and 37, "93" as applied to the heat exchanger chamber sl be deleted; line 39, "97" should read --98--. Column 8, line 42, "13" should be deleted; line 71, "110" should read -10-. Column 9, lines 47, 56, 58, 60, 64 and 70, "13'" should be deleted. Column 10, line 23 (Claim 1), --main-- should be inserted before "combustion"; line 29, the colon should be changed to a semi-colon line 39, "chambers" should read --chamber-; line 69(C1aim 2), "s, after "apparatus" should be deleted. Column 11, line 61 (Claim 6), "combust Received" should read combustion received--. Column 15, line 8 (Claim 19), end-- should be inserted after 'other".

Signed and sealed this 30th day of March 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC3-1050 (O-69) usroMM-Dc B0375- 

